Services footy leaps forward
Curtain-raiser with Swans a highlight

A member of the national Navy side marks in front of two Army players. Photo by Michael Weaver.

By SGT Chris Warwick

Military Australian rules football is set to begin the 2003 season with a national competition before a curtain-raiser on hallowed Australian sporting turf on Anzac Day, further developing relations with a national sports body.

The Australian Services Australian Football Association (ASAFA) will hold the 2003 national men’s and women’s competition in March, followed by a game against a combined emergency services team on the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Anzac Day.

In June, the selected ASAFA National Services Women’s team will compete in the Australian Football League’s (AFL) annual national women’s competition to be conducted in the Northern Territory.

Given the importance and significance of fostering a strong relationship with the AFL, and a prominent AFL team, the ASAFA moved the national men’s competition to the beginning of the 2003 season in order to select the best possible team from available players to play on the SCG on a day of such national significance.

The Sydney Swans Football Club has long recognised the benefits of fostering a healthy relationship with the ADF.
On the way to the 1997 Arafura Sports Festival, the national men’s team toured the Swan’s training facilities and received a talk from the then assistant coach, Damien Drum, on leadership and on-field tactics.

Sydney Swans players and coaching staff toured the Royal Military College - Duntroon prior to the 2002 season to further develop their understanding of the military ethos and leadership under pressure.

Consequently, when ASAFA approached the Sydney Swans with plans to play a curtain-raiser before their Melbourne Demons game against a combined emergency services team on Anzac Day, the Swans recognised the symbolism of the event and were enthusiastic to provide support.

The Navy and RAAF will send their national team to the men’s competition to be held in Canberra from 24 to 28 March in an effort to break the Army’s 15-year hold on the national champion Service title.

Still in developmental infancy, the ASAFA National Women’s team will travel to Darwin for itsthird attempt in the AFL’s national women’s competition, after a credible effort at last year’s competition at Drummoyne Oval in Sydney last year.

Unlike their male counterparts, the ADF women compete against teams from all Australian football playing states and the standard of play will only improve with the experience.

Any local female sailors, soldiers and airwomen in the Darwin area who are interested in providing any level of support to the team during the AFL women’s nationals are encouraged to approach their local unit Australian rules football representative or to contact the ASAFA communications officer at chris.warwick@defence.gov.au for further information.

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